The Temporal Relationship between Social Adaptation and Depression: The Moderating Role of Social Isolation

Background Social Adaptation(SA) and Depression significantly challenge the elderly's psychological health. The complex interplay between these conditions, particularly in the context of varying different levels of social isolation(SI), is not well-understood. Methods In this study, we utilized the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) database to classify participants into groups of low and high SI, based on their scores. Network analysis was used to examine the relationships between symptoms of SA and Depression at two distinct time points across different levels of SI. We then applied Cross-Lagged Panel Network (CLPN) analysis to assess the longitudinal causal relationships between these symptoms, focusing on the moderating role of SI. Results Our findings reveal that, compared to the Low-SI group, the High-SI group exhibits more intricate relationships between social adaptation and depression, indicating a significant modulatory effect of SI on these correlations. Key symptoms identified as bridge items in the networks of SA and Depression include "Not accepting new ideas," "Do something more," and "Sad." In the cross-lagged analysis, "Loss of appetite" showed the greatest impact in the Low-SI group, while "Good mood" was predominant in the High-SI group. Conclusions This research provides valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of interaction between SA and Depression, underscoring SI pivotal role in this dynamic.